Media and Environmental Awareness: a Geographical Study in Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia
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MEDIA AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY IN KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA By TESEMA FOTE ROBA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF ARTS In the subject GEOGRAPHY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: Dr. AC HARMSE JOINT SUPERVISOR: Dr. AKLILU DALELO MARCH 2O12 i DECLARATION OF OWN WORK I declare that MEDIA AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY IN KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. SIGNATURE DATE (TESEMA FOTE ROBA) ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This thesis would not have been possible without the support and professional guidance of many people. It is obvious that in a thesis of this sort, the researcher must draw experience from a wide variety of sources including his own. However, during the study of this research, special support and contribution was tendered by certain individuals for whom the researcher wishes to record his appreciation separately here. First and foremost I am especially indebted to Dr.AC Harmse supervisor, Ms Nicolau department of Geography and the joint supervisor Dr.Aklilu Dalelo who gave me valuable coaching, scholarly advice and critical comments over emails. I am grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work during this thesis. Each of the members of my thesis participants has provided me extensive personal and professional guidance and thought me a great deal about both scientific research and life in general. My appreciation also goes to Dr. Birhanu Matthews, Ass.Professor Mammo Kefele and W/o Netsanet Asfaw who forwarded constructive and professional language edition and comments that helped me to shape the research work. I would express my especially thank to my friends, Abera Somano, Alemu Boke, Surafel Petros and Tamru Fote for being on my side during the pain taking journey to remote country side and for sharing the burden of data collection. Nobody has been more important to me in the pursuit of this thesis than the members of my family. I would like to thank my parents, for their passionate phrase such as Berta-lella-ataseb. They are the ultimate role models. Most importantly I wish to thank my loving and supportive wife, Adanech, and my beloved sister Alemitu, and my two wonderful children, Fasika and Eshetu, for their patience on the past research study years, and for sacrificing their precious family time so that I could successfully complete this academic thesis. iii ABSTRACT In Ethiopia people are highly dependent on natural resources which often lead to environmental degradation. The perception is that environmental degradation is partly due to lack of environmental awareness. The level of environmental awareness and the role of the media in creating awareness in Kembata Tembaro Administrative zone were investigated. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to identify sources of environmental knowledge, content, spatial extent, volume and priority of media coverage, impact of media, and expectation of audiences and producers. Experience, rather than outside sources, such as provided by the media, is the main source of environmental information, but awareness is key to reduce further environmental degradation. Environmental media programs should be transmitted at suitable times and the experiences of successful farmers in natural resources conservation and development should be shared. Attention should also be given to identification of awareness obstacles and training and sensitizing of journalists on environment issues. Key terms: Environmental awareness, media, environmental coverage, content analysis, environmental degradation, journalist, Environmental media, forest, environ mental protection, media programs. iv TABLE OF CONTENT PAGES CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND……...……1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………...........1 1.2. BACKGROUND ………………………………………………………….. ....... 2 1.2.1. NATIONAL SITUATION……………………………………………….........8 1.2.2. LOCAL SITUATION……………………………………………..………….11 1.3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM………………………………………. …13 1.4. MOTIVATION FOR THE RESEARCH ……………………………............14 1.5. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY………………………………….............15 1.6. RESEARCH QUESTIONS …………………………………………........... ..16 1.7 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY………………..……...........17 1.7.1. THE SELECTION OF STUDY AREA……………………………………18 1.7.2. METHOD OF RESEARCH …………………………………..…………..18 1.7.3. DATA GATHERING ………………………………… …………………...20 1.7.4. DATA ANALYSIS………………………………………………..………...20 1.8. LIMITATIONS OR PROBLEMS IN THE STUDY……………………………21 1.9. ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS…………………………………..............21 1.10.CONCLUSION……………………………………………..………....……......22 v CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………..23 2.1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….…................23 2.2. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION ……………………..…..….…….23 2.3. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION…………...….................26 2.3.1. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE MEDIA AND THE ENVIRONMENT…………………………………………………………….26 2.3.2. THE CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS OF MEDIA AND ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………………..32 2.3.3. THE ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA AIDOEMEC …………….........……….34 2.3.4. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT……………….…... ……..36 2.4. OVERVIEW OF THE STATE OF ETHIOPIAN ENVIRONMENT…………..39 2.4.1. SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION……………………………………………………………..44 2.4.2. HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT PERSPECTIVE………………………………46 2.4.3. EVIDENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ……………………….47 2.4.4. FACTORS EXACERBATING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS…....... 49 2.4.5. NATIONAL COMMITMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES………..51 2.4.6. OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ……….….............53 2.5. SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF MEDIA ON ENVIRONMENTAL vi AWARENESS…………………………………………………………...............56 2.5.1. THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT MEDIA ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS …………………….………………………………………..60 2.5.1.1. THE ROLE OF MODERN MEDIA IN CREATING AWARENESS………………………………………………........61 2.5.1.2. THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL MEDIA IN CREATING AWARENESS………………………………………. …..............63 2.5.1.3. ADDITIONAL FACTORS EXPLAINING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS …......................................................................65 2.5.2. AGENDA-SETTING AND FRAMING ROLE OF MEDIA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS…………………………………… 66 2.6. CONCLUSION……………………………………...…...……………...…........67 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY….69 3.1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………..69 3.2. JUSTIFICATION OF INFORMATION GATHERING PROCESS………. …69 3.3. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA …………………………………… 71 3.3.1. KERCHICHO AND GESHEGOLA (VILLAGE ONE AND VILLAGE SEVEN)…………………………………………………..............................74 3.3.2. HOLAGABA-ZETO, HAMDO-GEFERO AND ADILLO (BUDIN FOUR, VILLAGE THREE AND BUDIN SIX)……………………………………….75 3.4. METHODS AND PROCEDURES OF DATA COLLECTION ……………….76 3.4.1. METHODS……………………………………………………………….......76 vii 3.4.1.1. SAMPLING …………………………………………………………...76 3.4.1.2. FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSING (FGD)………………………….....80 3.4.1.3. IN-DEPTH INTERVIPWS ……………………………………….….83 3.4.2. PROCEDURE OF DATA COLLECTION …………………………. ……85 3.5 .THE QUESTIONNAIRE…………………………………………………. …….86 3.6. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………. ……….88 [[[ CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION………89 4.1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………..89 4.2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF RESEARCH RESPONDENTS……..89 4.3. ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA PROGRAMS (AWEDEGETER AND AKABABI –ENA –LEMAT) AND THEIR STATIONS ………………………..92 4.4. RESPONDENTS AWARENESS ON CURRENT STATUS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE RESEARCH AREA.............................................95 4.4.1. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN OF RESPONDENTS (OPTIMIST OR PESSIMIST)………………………………….…………108 4.4.2. DISCUSSION WITH OTHERS …………………………………………..111 4.4.3. MEDIA PROGRAMS AND GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN…………………………………………………………...……. 114 4.5. ACCESS AND REASON FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ……115 4.5.1. ACCESS TO MEDIA ……………………………………………………..115 viii 4.5.2. REASONS FOR USING THE MEDIA……………………………………118 4.5.3. WHO FOLLOWS ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA PROGRAMS (AKABABI – ENA – LEMAT AND AWEDEGETER) …….........................................121 4.6. ROLE OF MEDIA ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS……….............126 4.6.1. PERCEPTUAL AND POTENTIAL ROLE OF MEDIA IN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.………………………….…………142 4.6.2. QUANTITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS ……………………..…….......144 4.6.3. QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS ………………………………….150 4.7. CHALLENGES OF REPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES…………..153 4.7.1. THE NEED FOR TRAINED JOURNALISTS ………………..................154 4.7.2. LANGUAGE USAGE AND INTERPRETATION ………………………..155 4.7.3. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF MEDIA INFORMATION …………….158 4.7.4 REACTION OF MEDIA WITH ITS BROADCASTERS………………...162 4.8. HIGH-LEVEL COMMITMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.…………………………………………………………….164 4. 9. GENERAL EVALUATION ……………………………………………...........165 4.10. CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………….165 ix CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....167 5.1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………..167 5.2. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS…………………………………………………..167 5.3. CONCLUSIONS ………………………………………………………….. ….175 5.4. RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………….181 5.5. CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………….183 REFERENCE ………………………………………………………………………184 APPENDIX 1: DISCRIPTION OF SAMPLE MEDIA PROGRAMS.…...............199 APPENDIX 2: RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS LIST………..…… ……..............209 APPENDIX 3: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR SURVEY RESPONDENTS….............................................................................216 APPENDIX 4: DATA REGISTRATION SHEET………………………………..222 x LIST